106th Congress (1999 - 2000)

January 24 - December 15, 2000

House Committee Meetings by Date
Compiled from the Congressional Record's Daily Digests via Thomas at thomas.loc.gov

2000/01/24
Daily Digest - Monday, January 24, 2000; D 1- D20

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 



2000/01/25
Daily Digest - [Tuesday,] January 25, 2000; pages D21 - D22

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 



2000/01/26
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 26, 2000; pages D23 - D26

Committee Meetings

OVERSIGHT--U.S. TERRORIST THREATS

Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held an
oversight hearing on Terrorist Threats in the United States. Testimony was
heard from Ambassador Phillip C. Wilcox, the U.S. State Department (retired)
and public witnesses. 



2000/01/27
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 27, 2000; pages D28 - D32

Committee Meetings

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing on the
House of Representatives and the Library of Congress. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the House of Representatives: James M. Eagen III,
Chief Administrative Officer; Jeff Trandahl, Clerk; Wilson Livingood, Sergeant
at Arms; Robert B. Frey, Acting Inspector General; Geraldine R. Gennet,
General Counsel; John R. Miller, Law Revision Counsel; M. Pope Barrow, Jr.,
Legislative Counsel; and John F. Eisold, M.D., Attending Physician; and James
H. Billington, Librarian of Congress. 

DOD DRUG INTERDICTION PROGRAM

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy
and Human Resources held a hearing on "The Decline of DOD Assets in the Fight
Against Illegal Drugs." Testimony was heard from Jess T. Ford, Associate
Director, International Relations and Trade Issues, National Security and
International Affairs, GAO; Ana Maria D30Salazar, Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Drug Enforcement Policy and Support, Department of Defense; Rear Adm. Ernest
R. Riutta, USCG, Assistant Commandant, Operations, U.S. Coast Guard,
Department of Transportation; and Charles Stallworth, Executive Director, Air
and Marine Interdiction Division, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the
Treasury. 

                                           [Page: D30]

"Y2K--IN RETROSPECT"

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management,
Information, and Technology and the Subcommittee on Technology of the
Committee on Science held a joint hearing on "The Year 2000 Computer Problem:
Did the World Overreact and What Did We Learn?" Testimony was heard from John
Koskinen, Chair, President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion; Charles
Rossotti, Commissioner, IRS, Department of the Treasury; Fernando Burbano,
Chief Information Officer, Department of State; Joel Willemssen, Director,
Civil Agencies Information Systems, GAO; and public witnesses. 

INTERNAL REVENUE CODE--PENALTY AND INTEREST PROVISIONS

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing on
Penalty and Interest Provisions in the Internal Revenue Code. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Joseph
M. Mikrut, Tax Legislative Counsel; and W. Val Oveson, National Taxpayer
Advocate; Lindy Paull, Chief of Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation; and public
witnesses. 



2000/01/31
Daily Digest - Monday, January 31, 2000; pages D33- D36

Committee Meetings

OSHA ENFORCEMENT POLICY ON EMPLOYEES WORKING AT HOME

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing on January 28 on OSHA's Enforcement Policy on
Employees Working at Home. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
OSHA, Department of Labor: Charles Jeffress, Assistant Secretary, and Richard
Fairfax, Director of Compliance Programs; Don Upson, Secretary of Technology,
State of Virginia; and public witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D35]

TAIWAN SECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule on H.R.
1838, Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, providing one hour of debate in the
House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority
member of the Committee on International Relations. The rule waives all points
of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the bill
shall be considered as read for amendment. The rule provides that the
amendment recommended by the Committee on International Relations now printed
in the bill shall be considered as adopted. The rule provides for
consideration of the amendment printed in the Congressional Record, if offered
by the Minority Leader or a designee, which shall be considered as read and
shall be separately debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by
the proponent and an opponent. Finally, the rule provides one motion to
recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman
Gilman. 



2000/02/01
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 1, 2000; pages D38 - D44

Committee Meetings 

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing on the
Joint Economic Committee, the GPO, the Joint Committee on Taxation, the GAO,
and the Capitol Police Board. Testimony was heard from Representatives Saxton
and Archer; Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer, GPO; David M. Walker,
Comptroller General, GAO; Wilson Livingood, Sergeant at Arms, House of
Representatives; James W. Ziglar, Sergeant at Arms, Senate; Gary L. Abrecht,
Chief, U.S. Capitol Police; and Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the Capitol. 

SMALL BUSINESS LIABILITY REFORM ACT 

Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 2366, Small
Business Liability Reform Act of 1999. 

WORKPLACE GOODS JOB GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS ACT 

Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by voice vote, a modified open rule
providing 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 2005, Workplace Goods Job Growth
and Competitiveness Act of 1999. The rule makes in order the Committee on the
Judiciary amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed in the bill as
an original bill for the purpose of amendment, which shall be open for
amendment at any point. The rule makes in order only those amendments printed
in the Congressional Record and pro forma amendments for the purpose of
debate. The rule provides that each amendment printed in the Congressional
Record may be offered only by the Member who caused it to printed or his
designee, and that each amendment shall be considered as read. The rule allows
the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during
consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting time to five minutes on a
postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. Finally, the
rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony
was heard from Representative Chabot. 

                                           [Page: D42]



2000/02/02
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 2, 2000; pages D45 - D50

Committee Meetings

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing on the
Office of Compliance, the CBO and the Financial Managers Council. Testimony
was heard from Members of Congress; the following officials of the Office of
Compliance: Barbara Childs Wallace, member, Board of Directors; and Ricky
Silberman, Executive Director; Dan L. Crippen, Director, CBO; the following
officials of the Financial Managers Council: Richard L. Brown, Deputy
Assistant Comptroller General, Operations, GAO; and John D. Webster, Director,
Financial Services, Library of Congress; and public witnesses. 

FEDERAL ROLE IN K-12 MATHEMATICS REFORM

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood,
Youth and Families and the Subcommittee on Post secondary Education, Training,
and Life-Long Learning held a joint hearing on Federal Role in K-12
Mathematics Reform. Testimony was heard from Judith S. Sunley, Interim
Director, Office of Education and Human Resources, NSF; Kent McGuire,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Education Research and Improvement, Department
of Education; and public witnesses. 

KYOTO AND THE INTERNET

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Economic Growth,
Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing on Kyoto and the
Internet: The Energy Implications of the Digital Economy. Testimony was heard
from Jay E. Hakes, Administrator, Energy Information Administration,
Department of Energy; and public witnesses. 

GULF WAR VETERANS' ILLNESSES

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans'
Affairs and International Relations held a hearing on Gulf War Veterans'
Illnesses: The Current Research Agenda. Testimony was heard from Kwai Chan,
Director, Special Studies and Evaluations Group, GAO; the following officials
of the Department of Defense: Lt. Gen. Dale Vesser, USA, Deputy to the Special
Assistant, Gulf War Illnesses; Robert Foster, Director, BioSystems; John
Mazzuchi, M.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs; and John Feussner,
M.D., Chief Research and Development Officer; Drue Barrett, Chief, Veterans'
Health Activity Working Group, Centers for Disease D49Control and Prevention,
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D49]

NEW CENTURY--CHANGING AMERICAN DIPLOMACY

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Changing American
Diplomacy for the New Century. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Overseas Advisory Panel: Lewis Kaden, Chairman; and
Ambassador Langhorne A. Motley, member; and a public witness. 

PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved for full
Committee action, as amended, H.R. 2372, Private Property Rights
Implementation Act of 1999. 

COMMON SENSE PROTECTIONS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 3160, Common Sense Protections
for Endangered Species Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

MARRIAGE TAX PENALTY RELIEF ACT

Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 6, Marriage
Tax Penalty Relief Act of 1999. 



2000/02/03
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 3, 2000; pages D51 - D56

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 



2000/02/07
Daily Digest - Monday, February 7, 2000; pages D57 - D60

Committee Meetings 

There were no committee meetings today. 

                                           [Page: D58]

2000/02/08
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 8, 2000; pages D61 - D66

Committee Meetings

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the Secretary of Health and Human Services and
the Health Care Financing Administration. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Donna E.
Shalala, Secretary; and Nancy Ann DeParle, Administrator, Health Care
Financing Administration. 

DEFENSE BUDGET ADEQUACY

Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the adequacy of the defense
budget. Testimony was heard from the following former Secretaries of Defense:
James R. Schlesinger; and William J. Perry; and public witnesses. 

RECENT BANK FAILURES

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on Recent Bank
Failures; Underlying Factors including Subprime Lending, Asset
Securitizations, and Fraud; Regulatory Initiatives; and H.R. 3374, Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation Examination Enhancement and Insurance Fund
Protection Act. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of the Treasury: John D. Hawke, Jr., Comptroller of the Currency;
and Ellen Seidman, Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Donna Tanoue,
Chairman, FDIC; and Laurence H. Meyer, member, Board of Governors, Federal
Reserve System. 

ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET

Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the Administration's Budget for
Fiscal Year 2001. Testimony was heard from Jacob J. Lew, Director, OMB. 

OVERSIGHT--2000 CENSUS

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on the Census held an oversight
hearing on the 2000 Census: Examining the Status of Key Census 2000
Operations. Testimony was heard from Kenneth D64Prewitt, Director, Bureau of
the Census, Department of Commerce. 

                                           [Page: D64]

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and
Oceans held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3331, Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species Conservation Act of 1999; H.R. 3390, Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species Conservation Act of 1999; and H.R. 3516, to amend the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prohibit pelagic
longline fishing in the exclusive economic zone in the Atlantic Ocean.
Testimony was heard from Representative Goss; Penelope Dalton, Assistant
Administrator, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department
of Commerce; and public witnesses. 

NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule on H.R. 2086,
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act, providing
one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and
ranking member of the Committee on Science. The rule provides that it shall be
in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment the
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on
Science now printed in the bill, modified by striking section 8. The rule
provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute, as modified, shall
be open for amendment by section. The rule allows the Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole to accord priority in recognition to Members who have
pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record and provides that
those amendments shall be considered as read. The rule allows the Chairman of
the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill
and to reduce voting time to five minutes on a postponed question if the vote
follows a fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to
recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman
Sensenbrenner and Representative Hall of Texas. 

MARRIAGE TAX PENALTY RELIEF ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule on H.R. 6,
Marriage Tax Penalty Relief Act of 2000, providing two hours of debate equally
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the amendment recommended by
the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill shall be considered as
adopted upon adoption of the resolution. The rule provides for consideration
of the amendment in the nature of a substitute, printed in the report
accompanying the resolution, if offered by Representative Rangel or his
designee which shall be considered as read and shall be separately debatable
for one hour equally divided between the proponent and an opponent. The rule
waives all points of order against consideration of the amendment printed in
the report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without
instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Archer and Representatives
Weller and Rangel. 
 
OUTCOME--SEATTLE WTO MINISTERIAL

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on the
outcome of the World Trade Organization Ministerial held in Seattle. Testimony
was heard from Representatives Lewis of Georgia, Weller and Waters; Charlene
Barshefsky, U.S. Trade Representative; Susan Westin, Associate Director,
International Relations and Trade, GAO; and public witnesses. 



2000/02/09
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 9, 2000; pages D68 - D74

Committee Meetings

RURAL AMERICA DIRECT-TO-HOME SATELLITE SERVICES 

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight,
Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing to review legislation to establish a
loan guarantee program to promote the delivery of direct-to-home satellite
services to rural America. Testimony was heard from Representatives Emerson
and Boucher; Christopher McLean, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities
Service, USDA; and public witnesses. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the Administration on Children, Youth and
Families, the Administration on Aging, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Health
and Human Services: Olivia Golden, Assistant Secretary, Administration for
Children and Families; Jeanette Takamura, Assistant Secretary, Administration
on Aging; Nelba Chavez, M.D., Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration; and John M. Eisenberg, Administrator, Agency for
Health Care Policy and Research. 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2001 National
Defense Authorization Budget Request. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Defense: William S. Cohen, Secretary; Gen.
Henry H. Shelton, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and William J. Lynn,
III, Comptroller. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

HOLOCAUST VICTIMS' ASSETS RESTITUTION 

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on issues related
to the restitution of Holocaust victims' assets. Testimony was heard from
Stuart Eizenstat, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury; and public
witnesses. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

MEDICAL ERRORS: IMPROVING QUALITY OF CARE 

Committee on Commerce, Subcommittee on Health and Environment, the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Health of
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a joint hearing on Medical Errors:
Improving Quality of Care and Consumer Information. Testimony was heard from
Thomas Garthwaite, M.D., Acting Under Secretary, Health, Veterans Health
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Janet Heinrich, Associate
Director, Health Financing and Public Health Issues, GAO; and public
witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT 

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer
Protection held an oversight hearing on The White House, the Networks, and TV
Censorship. Testimony was heard from Donald R. Vereen, Jr., M.D., Deputy
Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy; and public witnesses. 

INNOVATIVE EDUCATION--PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY 

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood,
Youth, and Families held a hearing on Title VI: Providing Flexibility for
Innovative Education. Testimony was heard from Valerie Woodruff, Acting
Secretary of Education, Department of Education, State of Delaware; and public
witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D72]

OVERSIGHT--ADA'S APPLICABILITY TO PRIVATE INTERNET SITES 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an oversight
hearing on the Applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act to Private
Internet Sites. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--ALASKA PUBLIC LANDS ACCESS; CRAIG MUNICIPAL EQUITY ACT 

Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on issues and controversies
relating to access across conservation systems lands and other public lands in
Alaska under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Testimony
was heard from Donald J. Barry, Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and
Parks, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.

The Committee also held a hearing on H.R. 3182, Craig Municipal Equity Act of
1999. Testimony was heard from Jack Craven, Director of Lands, Forest Service,
USDA; and Dennis Watson, Mayor, Craig, Alaska. 

SHRINKING WORKFORCE ENDANGERS AMERICA'S SMALL BUSINESSES; SKILLED WORKFORCE
ENHANCEMENT ACT 

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on Shrinking Workforce Endangers
America's Small Businesses: Examining the Need for the Skilled Workforce
Enhancement Act, focusing on H.R. 1824, Skilled Workforce Enhancement Act of
1999. Testimony was heard from Senator DeWine; and public witnesses. 

FISCAL YEAR 2001--AGENCY BUDGETS AND PRIORITIES 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Agency Budgets and Priorities for
Fiscal year 2001. Testimony was heard from Joseph W. Westphal, Assistant
Secretary, Army (Civil Works), Corps of Engineers; the following officials of
the EPA: J. Charles Fox, Assistant Administrator, Water; and Timothy Fields,
Jr., Assistant Administrator, Solid Waste and Emergency Response; the
following officials of the TVA: Kate J. Jackson, Executive Vice President,
Resource Group; and David N. Smith, CFO; Danny D. Sells, Associate Chief,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA; and Sally J. Yozell, Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA, Department of Commerce. 

ADMINISTRATION'S FISCAL YEAR 2001 BUDGET 

Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the Administration's Fiscal
Year 2001 budget. Testimony was heard from Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary of
the Treasury. 



2000/02/10
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 10, 2000; pages D75 - D86

Committee Meetings 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the Health Resources and Services
Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Health and Human
Services: Claude Earl Fox, Administrator, Health Resources and Services
Administration; and Jeffrey Koplan, Director, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation began
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Members of Congress and
public witnesses. 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST 

Committee on Armed Services: Continued hearings on the Fiscal Year 2001
National Defense Authorization Budget Request. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Defense: Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, USA,
Chief of Staff, Department of the Army; Adm. Jay L. Johnson, USN, Chief of
Naval Operations, Department of the Navy; Gen. Michael E. Ryan, USAF, Chief of
Staff, Department of the Air Force; and Gen. James L. Jones, USMC, Commandant,
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. 

Hearings continue February 17. 

HOLOCAUST VICTIMS' ASSETS RESTITUTION 

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Concluded hearings on issues
related to the restitution of Holocaust victims' assets. Testimony was heard
from Lawrence Eagleburger, Chairman, International Commission on Holocaust-Era
Insurance Claims; Earl Powell, Director, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian
Institution; and public witnesses. 

REUSE OF SINGLE-USE MEDICAL DEVICES 

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a
hearing on the reuse of single-use medical devices. Testimony was heard from
David W. Feigal, Jr., M.D., Director, Center for Devices and Radiological
Health, FDA, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. 

21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS PROGRAM 

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood,
Youth, and Families held a hearing on 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Program. Testimony was heard from Michael Cohen, Assistant Secretary, Office
of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education; and public
witnesses. 

OPEC AND THE NORTHEAST ENERGY CRISIS 

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on OPEC and the Northeast
Energy Crisis. Testimony was heard from David L. Goldwyn, Assistant Secretary,
International Affairs, Department of Energy; Peter Bass, Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Energy, Sanctions and Commodities, Bureau of Economic and Business
Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT--PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held a hearing on
H.J. Res. 64, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
to protect the rights of crime victims. Testimony was heard from Senators Kyl
and Feinstein; Representatives Chabot, Barcia and Scott; Judge Emmet G.
Sullivan, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia; and public witnesses. 

MONEY LAUNDERING 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on money
laundering. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department
of Justice: James K. Robinson, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division;
and Stefan Cassella, Assistant Chief, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering
Section; John Varrone, Executive Director, Domestic Operations East, Office of
Investigations, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; and public
witnesses. 

SECRET EVIDENCE REPEAL ACT 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held a
hearing on H.R. 2121, Secret Evidence Repeal Act of 1999. Testimony was heard
from Representatives Campbell and Bonior; Larry R. Parkinson, General Counsel,
FBI, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D82]

OVERSIGHT--VISA WAIVER PILOT PROGRAM 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held an
oversight hearing on the Visa Waiver Pilot Program. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Department of Justice: Robert Ashbaugh, Acting
Inspector General; Mike Cronin, Acting Associate Commissioner, Office of
Programs, Immigration and Naturalization Service; and Elisa Liang, Associate
Deputy Attorney General; Ambassador Mary A. Ryan, Assistant Secretary,
Consular Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--PROPOSED CONCESSIONS REGULATIONS 

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held
an oversight hearing on Proposed Concessions Regulations. Testimony was heard
from Maureen Finnerty, Associate Director, Park Operations and Education,
National Park Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
  
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES 

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on the
following bills: H.R. 3595, to increase the authorization of appropriations
for the Reclamation Safety and Dams Act of 1978; H.R. 3577, to increase the
amount authorized to be appropriated for the north side pumping division of
the Minidoka reclamation project, Idaho; H.R. 2647, Ak-Chin Water Use
Amendments Act of 1999; and H.R. 3236, to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to enter into contracts with the Weber Basin Water Conservancy
District, Utah, to use Weber Basin Project facilities for the impounding,
storage, and carriage of nonproject water for domestic, municipal, industrial,
and other beneficial purposes. Testimony was heard from Representative
Shadegg; Eluid Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of
the Interior; and public witnesses. 

CERTAIN EPA'S PROPOSED REGULATIONS 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment held a hearing on EPA's Proposed Regulations
Regarding Total Maximum Daily Loads, the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System, and the Federal Anti-Degradation Policy. Testimony was
heard from J. Charles Fox, Assistant Administrator, EPA; Peter J. Guerrero,
Director, Resources, Community and Economic Development, GAO; Carol R.
Collier, Executive Director, Delaware River Basin Commission; and public
witnesses. 

Hearings continue February 15. 

MEDICAL ERRORS 

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Medical
Errors. Testimony was heard from Linda J. Connell, Director, Aviation Safety
Reporting System, Ames Research Center, NASA; James P. Bagian, Director,
National Center for Patient Safety, Veterans Health Administration, Department
of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses. 

BABY BOOMER BENEFICIARIES--SOCIAL SECURITY READINESS 

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security and the
Subcommittee on Human Resources held a joint hearing to Examine Social
Security's Readiness for the Impending Wave of Baby Boomer Beneficiaries.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Social Security
Advisory Board: Stanford G. Ross, Chair; and Sylvester J. Schieber, member;
the following officials of the GAO: Cynthia M. Fagnoni, Director, Education,
Workforce and Income Security Issues, Health Education and Human Services
Division; and Joel C. Willemssen, Director, Civil Agencies Information
Systems, Accounting and Information Management Division; and public witnesses. 



2000/02/14
Daily Digest - Monday, February 14, 2000: pages D88 - D90

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 



2000/02/15
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 15, 2000; pages D91 - D96

Committee Meetings 

COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT--OVER-THE-COUNTER DERIVATIVES MARKETS 

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Risk Management, Research, and
Specialty Crops held a hearing to review the President's Working Group Report
on the over-the-counter derivatives markets and the Commodity Exchange Act.
Testimony was heard from Lee Sachs, Assistant Secretary, Financial Markets,
Department of the Treasury; C. Robert Paul, General Counsel, CFTC; Patrick M.
Parkinson, Associate Director, Division of Research and Statistics, Board of
Governors, Federal Reserve System; Annette L. Nazareth, Director, Division of
Market Regulation, SEC; and public witnesses. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held an oversight
hearing on the Fish and Wildlife Service Land Acquisition Accounts and
Priority Setting. Testimony was heard from Jim Wells, Director, Energy and
Natural Resources Division, GAO; and Jamie Rappaport Clark, Director, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. 

                                           [Page: D93]

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the Director, National Institutes of Health,
and on the National Cancer Institute. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Ruth Kirschstein,
M.D., Acting Director, NIH; and Richard D. Klausner, M.D., Director, National
Cancer Institute. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held a
hearing on overview. Testimony was heard from William J. Lynn, III, Under
Secretary, Comptroller, Department of Defense. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a hearing on
the Secretary of Transportation. Testimony was heard from Rodney E. Slater,
Secretary of Transportation. 

AMERICAN HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT 

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Opportunity approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R.
1776, American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 1999. 

FAIRNESS IN SECURITIES TRANSACTION ACT 

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials
approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 2441, Fairness in
Securities Transactions Act. 

EMERGENCY COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION ACT 

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood,
Youth, and Families held a hearing on H.R. 3614, Emergency Commodity
Distribution Act of 2000. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

ERISA--25 YEARS LATER 

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employee-Employer
Relations held a hearing on the Evolving Pension and Investment World After 25
years of ERISA. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--2000 CENSUS 

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on the Census held an oversight
hearing of the 2000 Census: Examining the GAO's Census 2000 Oversight
Activities. Testimony was heard from J. Christopher Mihm, Acting Associate
Director, Federal Management and Workforce Issues, GAO. 

COLOMBIA CRISIS--U.S. RESPONSE 

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy
and Human Resources held a hearing on The U.S. Response to the Crisis in
Colombia. Testimony was heard from Barry R. McCaffrey, Director, Office of
National Drug Control Policy; the following officials of the Department of
Defense: Gen. Charles Wilhelm, USMC, Commander, U.S. Southern Command; and Ana
Maria Salazar, Drug Enforcement Policy and Support; William Ledwith, Chief,
International Operations, DEA, Department of Justice; Ambassador Peter F.
Romero, Department of State; and public witnesses. 

"IS THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REGULATING THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE BACKDOOR?" 

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Economic Growth,
Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing on "Is the Department
of Labor Regulating the Public Through the Backdoor?" Testimony was heard from
Henry L. Solano, Solicitor, Department of Labor; and public witnesses. 

CONGO--PEACE KEEPING 

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing on
Peace Keeping in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Testimony was heard
from Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Representative to the United Nations,
Department of State. 

BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES; TRAFFIC STOPS STATISTICS STUDY ACT 

Committee on the Judiciary: Began consideration of the following: Committee
Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2001 for submission to the
Committee on the Budget; and H.R. 1443, Traffic Stops Statistics Study Act of
1999.  

Will continue tomorrow. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE 

Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a
hearing on H.R. 3432, to direct the Minerals Management Service to grant the
State of Louisiana and its lessees a credit in the payment of Federal offshore
royalties to satisfy the authorization for compensation contained in the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 for oil and gas drainage in the West Delta field.
Testimony was heard from Walt Rosenbusch, Director, Minerals Management
Service, D94Department of the Interior; Jack C. Caldwell, Secretary,
Department of Natural Resources, State of Louisiana; and a public witness. 

                                           [Page: D94]

OVERSIGHT--FUNDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES 

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held an
oversight hearing on the Funding of Environmental Initiatives and Their
Impacts on Local Communities. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

SMALL BUSINESS LIABILITY REFORM ACT 

Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by voice vote, a structured rule,
providing one hour of general debate on H.R. 2366, Small Business Liability
Reform Act of 2000, equally divided between the chairman and ranking minority
member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule makes in order the
Committee on the Judiciary amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed
in the bill as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. The rule makes
in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report
accompanying the resolution. The rule provides that the amendments made in
order may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered
only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall
be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the question
in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of
order against the amendments printed in the report. The rule permits the
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration
of the bill, and to reduce voting time to five minutes on a postponed question
if the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from
Representatives Rogan, Conyers, Scott, Berman, Watt of North Carolina,
Lofgren, and Jackson-Lee. 

The Committee also approved the Committee Budget Views and Estimates for
Fiscal Year 2001 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

U.S. AND GREAT BRITAIN--AVIATION NEGOTIATIONS BREAKDOWN 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held
a hearing on the Recent Breakdown of Aviation Negotiations Between the United
States and the United Kingdom. Testimony was heard from Rodney E. Slater,
Secretary of Transportation; and public witnesses. 

CERTAIN EPA'S PROPOSED REGULATIONS 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment concluded hearings on the EPA's Proposed Regulations
Regarding Total Maximum Daily Loads, the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System, and the Federal Anti-Degradation Policy. Testimony was
heard from Jim Lyons, Under Secretary, Natural Resources
and Environment, USDA; and public witnesses. 

PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS--SENIORS' ACCESS 

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Seniors'
Access to Prescription Drug Benefits. Testimony was heard from David M.
Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; and public witnesses. 

SOCIAL SECURITY WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENTS 

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on
improving Social Security Work Incentives. Testimony was heard from
Representatives Sam Johnson of Texas and Peterson of Minnesota; Kenneth S.
Apfel, Commissioner, SSA; and public witnesses. 

COMMITTEE BUSINESS 

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to
consider pending business. 



2000/02/16
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 16, 2000; pages D97 - D102

Committee Meetings

RURAL LOCAL BROADCAST SIGNAL ACT; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 3615, Rural Local
Broadcast Signal Act. 

The Committee also approved the Committee Budget Views and Estimates for
Fiscal Year 2001 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies began appropriation
hearings. Testimony was heard from Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture. 

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive session
to hold a hearing on Military Readiness. Testimony was heard from the
following officials from the Department of Defense: Adm. D.L. Pilling, USN,
Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. John Keane, USA, Vice Chief of Staff;
Gen. Terrence Dake, USMC, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; and Gen.
Lester Lyles, USAF, Vice Chief of Staff. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held an oversight
hearing on the Forest Service Managerial Accountability. Testimony was heard
from Barry T. Hill, Associate Director, Energy and Natural Resources Division,
GAO; the following officials from the U.S. Forest Service, Department of
Agriculture: Mike Dombeck, Chief; Vincette Goerl, Chief Financial Officer; and
Randle Phillips, Deputy Chief for Programs and Legislation; and public
witnesses. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the National Institute on Aging, the National
Center for Research Resources, the National Institute of Child Health and
Human Development and the National Institute of Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the Department of Health and Human Services: Richard J. Hodes, Director,
National Institute on Aging; Judith Vaitukaitis, Director, National Center for
Research Resources; Duane Alexander, M.D., Director, National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development; and James F. Battey Jr., M.D., National
Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held a
hearing on the Quality of D99Life. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Defense: Robert E. Hall, Sgt. Maj. U.S. Army;
James Herdt, Master Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy; Alfred L. McMichael, Sgt.
Maj., U.S. Marine Corps; and Frederick J. Finch, Chief Master Sgt, U.S. Air
Force. 

                                           [Page: D99]

BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAMS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement and the
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint hearing on
ballistic missile defense programs. Testimony was heard from Lt. Gen. Robert
T. Kadish, U.S. Air Force, Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization,
Department of Defense. 

BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Approved Committee Budget Views
and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2001 for submission to the Committee on the
Budget. 

MERGING THE DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUNDS

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial
Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing on Merging the Deposit
Insurance Funds. Testimony was heard from Donna Tanoue, Chairman, FDIC;
Gregory Baer, Assistant Secretary, Financial Institutions, Department of the
Treasury; and public witnesses. 

ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET--PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Preliminary Analysis of the
Administration's Fiscal Year 2001 Budget. Testimony was heard from Dan L.
Crippen, Director, CBO. 

AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS--SENIORS' ACCESS

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a hearing
on Seniors' Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs: Models for Reform.
Testimony was heard from Bonnie Washington, Director, Office of Legislation,
Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services;
William J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Public Health Issues, GAO;
and public witnesses. 

VIDEO ON THE INTERNET

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer
Protection held a hearing on Video on the Internet: iCraveTV.com and Other
Recent Developments in Webcasting. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

LITERACY INVOLVES FAMILIES TOGETHER ACT; IMPACT AID REAUTHORIZATION ACT

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported, as amended, the
following bills: H.R. 3222, Literacy Involves Families Together Act; and H.R.
3616, Impact Aid Reauthorization Act of 2000. 

DEFENSE SECURITY SERVICE OVERSIGHT

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans'
Affairs, and International Relations held a hearing on Defense Security
Service Oversight. Testimony was heard from Carol R. Schuster, Associate
Director, National Security International Affairs Division, GAO; Gen. Charles
Cunningham, Director, Defense Security Service, Department of Defense; and
Gen. Larry D. Welch, Chairman, Joint Security Commission. 

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BUDGET REQUEST; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the Administration's
Fiscal Year 2001 International Affairs Budget Request. Testimony was heard
from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State. 

The Committee also approved Committee Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal
Year 2001 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

INDONESIA

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
held a hearing on Indonesia: Confronting the Political and Economic Crises.
Testimony was heard from Timothy F. Geithner, Under Secretary, International
Affairs, Department of the Treasury; Stanley Roth, Assistant Secretary, East
Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses. 

BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on the Judiciary: Continued consideration of Committee Budget Views
and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2001 for submission to the Committee on the
Budget. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: S. 613, Indian
Tribal Economic Development and Contract Encouragement Act of 1999; H.R. 1680,
amended, to provide for the conveyance of Forest Service property in Kern
County, California, in exchange for county lands suitable for inclusion in
Sequoia National Forest; H.R. 1749, amended, to designate Wilson Creek in
Avery and Caldwell Counties, North Carolina, as a component of the National
Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems; and H.R. D1002484, to provide that land which
is owned by the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota but
which is not held in trust by the United States for the Community may be
leased or transferred by the Community without further approval by the United
States. 

                                          [Page: D100]

BIENNIAL BUDGETING

Committee on Rules: Held a hearing on Biennial Budgeting: A Tool for Improving
Government Fiscal Management and Oversight. Testimony was heard from. Speaker
Hastert; and Representatives Young of Florida, Obey, Regula, Price of North
Carolina, Knollenberg, Smith of Michigan, Bass, Barton of Texas, McCarthy of
Missouri, Stearns, Ney and Whitfield. 

NSF BUDGET AUTHORIZATION REQUEST

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Basic Research held a hearing on
National Science Foundation Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Authorization Request,
Part I: Research and Related Activities and Major Research Equipment.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the NSF: Rita Colwell,
Director; and Ramon Kelly, Chairman, National Science Board. 

NASA AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing on
Fiscal Year 2001 NASA Authorization, NASA Posture. Testimony was heard from
Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator, NASA. 

ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on Association Health Plans.
Testimony was heard from James R. Baumgardner, Acting Deputy Assistant
Director, Health Policy, CBO; and public witnesses. 

The Committee also approved Committee Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal
Year 2001 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES; MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Approved the following:
Committee Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2001 for submission to
the Committee on the Budget; and several water survey resolutions. 

FLOOD WATER RESCUE

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Oversight,
Investigations, and Emergency Management held a hearing on Flood Water Rescue.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Bilbray and Morella; Bruce Baughman,
Director, Operations and Planning Division, FEMA; and public witnesses. 

BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES; U.S-CHINA BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT--ACCESSION OF
CHINA TO THE WTO

Committee on Ways and Means: Approved Committee Budget Views and Estimates for
Fiscal Year 2001 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

The Committee also held a hearing on the U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Agreement
and the Accession of China to the WTO. Testimony was heard from
Representatives Smith of New Jersey, Pelosi, Dooley of California, Moran of
Virginia, Knollenberg, Blumenauer and Walden of Oregon; Charlene Barshefsky,
U.S. Trade Representative; and public witnesses. 

SENIOR CITIZENS' FREEDOM TO WORK ACT

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security approved for full
Committee, as amended, H.R. 5, Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 1999. 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY--STATE OF COUNTERINTELLIGENCE

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on the State of
Counterintelligence at the Department of Energy and Its Three Key Nuclear
Weapons Laboratories. Testimony was heard from Paul Redmond, Consultant to the
Committee. 



2000/02/22
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 22, 2000; pages D103 - D108

Committee Meetings 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: On February 17, the Subcommittee on Agriculture,
Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on the Inspector General. Testimony was heard from Roger C. Viadero,
Inspector General, USDA. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: On February 17, the Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, State, and Judiciary held a hearing on the Legal Services
Corporation. Testimony was heard from John McKay, President, Legal Services
Corporation. 

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: On February 17, the Subcommittee on Defense held
a hearing on Defense Medical Programs. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Defense: Rudy DeLeon, Under Secretary; William
Lynn, II, Under Secretary; and Sue Bailey, Assistant Secretary. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: On February 17, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education held a hearing on the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research,
the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
NIH, Department of Health and Human Services: Claude Lenfant, M.D., Director,
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; Harold Slavkin, DDS, Director,
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; Alan I. Leshner, M.D.,
Director, National Institute of Drug Abuse; and Enoch Gordis, M.D., Director,
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. 

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION 

Committee on Armed Services: On February 17, the Committee continued hearings
on the Fiscal Year 2001 National Defense Authorization Budget Request.
Testimony was heard from the following Gen. Wesley K. Clark, USA, Commander in
Chief, U.S. European Command, Department of Defense. 

CONDUCT OF MONETARY POLICY 

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: On February 17, the Committee
held a hearing on the Conduct of Monetary Policy (Humphrey-Hawkins). Testimony
was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve
System. 

OVERSIGHT--HIGH-RISK GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS 

Committee on the Budget: On February 17, the Committee held a hearing on
"Oversight of `High-Risk' Government Programs." Testimony was heard from David
M. Walker, Comptroller, GAO; Donald Mancuso, Deputy Inspector General,
Department of Defense; Susan Gaffney, Inspector General, Department of Housing
and Urban Development; June Gibbs, Brown, Inspector General, Department of
Health and Human Services; and Lorraine Pratte Lewis, Inspector General,
Department of Education. 

LOW-POWER FM STATIONS--REGULATION BY FCC 

Committee on Commerce: On February 17, the Subcommittee on Telecommunications,
Trade, and Consumer Protection a hearing on the FCC's Low-power FM: A Review
of the FCC's Spectrum Management Responsibilities in addition to H.R. 3439,
Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Bruce
Franca, Deputy Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC; and public
witnesses. 

21ST CENTURY WORKER SHORTAGES 

Committee on Education and the Workforce: On February 17, the Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on 21st Century Worker Shortages.
Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

HHS DRUG TREATMENT SUPPORT 

Committee on Government Reform: On February 17, the Subcommittee on Criminal
Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources held a hearing on HHS Drug Treatment
Support: Is SAMHSA Optimizing Resources? Testimony was heard from Janet
Heinrich, Associate Director, Health, Finance and Public Health Issues, GAO;
and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D106]

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES 

Committee on the Judiciary: On February 17, the Subcommittee on Immigration
and Claims held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3058, Anti-Atrocity
Alien Deportation Act; and H.R. 2883, Adopted Orphans Citizenship Act.
Testimony was heard from Representative Foley; the following officials of the
Department of Justice: Gerri Ratliff, Director, Business Process and
Re-engineering Services and Acting Director, Office of Congressional
Relations, Immigration and Naturalization Service; and James Castello,
Associate Deputy Attorney General; Edward A. Betancourt, Director, Office of
Policy Review and Interagency Liaison, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department
of State; and public witnesses. 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET 

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: On February 17, the Committee held a hearing
on the Fiscal Year 2001 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Testimony was heard from Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, Department of Veterans
Affairs; and representatives of veterans organizations. 

PATIENT RECORDS CONFIDENTIALITY 

Committee on Ways and Means: On February 17, the Subcommittee on Health held a
hearing on the Confidentiality of Patient Records. Testimony was heard from
Margaret Hamburg, M.D., Assistant Secretary, Planning and Evaluation,
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. 

CHILD PROTECTION REVIEW SYSTEM 

Committee on Ways and Means: On February 17, the Subcommittee on Human
Resources held a hearing on Child Protection Review System. Testimony was
heard from Representative Greenwood; Olivia A. Golden, Assistant Secretary,
Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services; and public
witnesses. 



2000/02/23
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 23, 2000; pages D110 - D114

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings are scheduled. 



2000/02/24
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 24, 2000; pages D116 - D124

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 



2000/02/28
Daily Digest - Monday, February 28, 2000; pages D126 - D130

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



2000/02/29
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 29, 2000; pages D132 - D140

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the FDA.
Testimony was heard from Jane E. Henney, M.D., Commissioner, FDA, Department
of Health and Human Services. 

FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export
Financing and Related Programs held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2000 Emergency
Supplemental Request for Assistance to Plan Colombia and Related
Counter-Narcotics Program. Testimony was heard from Barry McCaffrey, Director,
Office of National Drug Control Policy; and Randy Beers, Assistant Secretary,
International Narcotics Control, Department of State. 

                                          [Page: D136]

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on the
Secretary of the Interior. Testimony was heard from Bruce Babbitt, Secretary
of the Interior. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the
National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the
National Library of Medicine. Testimony was heard from the following officials
of the NIH, Department of Health and Human Services: Gerald D. Fischbach,
M.D., Director, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke;
Marvin Cassman, M.D., Director, National Institute of General Medical
Sciences; Allen M. Spiegel, M.D., Director, National Institute of Diabetes,
Digestive and Kidney Diseases; and Donald A.B. Linberg, M.D., Director,
National Library of Medicine. 

VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies
held a hearing on the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Testimony was heard from Harris Wofford, CEO, Corporation for National and
Community Service. 

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant Marine
held a hearing on the Fiscal year 2001 Maritime Administration authorization
request and related matters. Testimony was heard from John E. Graykowski,
Deputy Administrator, Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation. 

NAVY SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement held a
hearing on Navy shipbuilding programs. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of the Navy: Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher,
USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Resources, Warfare Requirement and
Assessments); Vice Adm. Charles W. Moore, USN, Commander, Third Fleet; and
Vice Adm. Dennis W. McGinn, USN, Commander, Third Fleet; and public witnesses. 

READINESS NEEDS--BUDGET REQUEST ADEQUACY

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held a hearing
on the adequacy of the Fiscal Year 2001 budget request to meet readiness
needs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of
Defense: Gen. John M. Keane, USA, Vice Chief of Staff, Department of the Army;
Adm. Donald L. Pilling, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Department of the
Navy; Gen. Lester L. Lyles, USAF, Vice Chief of Staff, Department of the Air
Force; and Gen. Terrence Dake, USMC, Assistant Commandant, Headquarters, U.S.
Marine Corps. 

U.S./MEXICO COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy
and Human Resources held a hearing on U.S./Mexico Counter-narcotics Efforts.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice:
William Ledwith, Director, International Operations, DEA; Mary Lee Warren,
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division; and John Montoya, U.S.
Border Patrol Sector Chief, Loredo; and a public witness. 

IRS'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT RESULTS

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management,
Information, and Technology held a hearing on the Results of the Internal
Revenue Service's Fiscal Year 1999 Financial Statement Audit. Testimony was
heard from Gregory D. Kutz, Associate Director, Governmentwide Accounting and
Financial Management, Accounting and Information Management Division, GAO; and
the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Lawrence W. Rogers,
Acting Chief Financial Officer, IRS; and Steven O. App, Deputy Chief Financial
Officer. 

MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
held a hearing on H.R. 3312, Merit Systems Protection Board Administrative
Dispute Resolution Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Ben L. Erdreich,
Chairman, Merit Systems Protection Board; Jeffrey Senger, Deputy Senior
Counsel, Office of Dispute Resolution, Department of Justice; and public
witnesses. 

GOVERNMENT WASTE CORRECTIONS ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote an open rule providing one hour of
general debate on H.R. D1371827, Government Waste Corrections Act of 1999,
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking member of the
Committee on Government Reform. The rule provides that, in lieu of the
amendment recommended by the Committee on Government Reform and printed in the
bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the report of the
Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution be considered as original text
for the purpose of amendment. The rule waives clause 4 of rule XXI
(prohibiting appropriations in a legislative bill) against provisions included
in the amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule provides that the
amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be open for amendment at any
point. The rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to accord
priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in
the Congressional Record. The rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the
Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill and to reduce voting
time to five minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen
minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without
instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Burton. 

                                          [Page: D137]

CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES

Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote a rule providing for consideration
of motions to suspend the rules at any time on the legislative day of
Wednesday, March 8, 2000. The rule provides that the Speaker or his designee
will consult with the Minority Leader or his designee on any suspension
considered under the resolution. 

NSF BUDGET AUTHORIZATION REQUEST

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Basic Research continued hearings on the
National Science Foundation Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Authorization request,
Part II: Education and Human Resources. Testimony was heard from Judith S.
Sunley, Acting Assistant Director, Directorate for Education and Human
Resources, NSF; and public witnesses. 

SBA'S PROPOSED NEW AUTOMATED LOAN MONITORING PROGRAM

Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Government Programs and Oversight
held a hearing on the SBA's Proposed New Automated Loan Monitoring Program.
Testimony was heard from Fred Hochberg, Deputy Administrator, SBA; Joel C.
Willemssen, Director, Civil Agencies Information Systems, Accounting and
Information Management Division, GAO; and a public witness. 

FAA'S BUDGET REQUEST AND FUNDING NEEDS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held
a hearing on the FAA's Budget request and funding needs. Testimony was heard
from Edward T. Schafer, Governor, North Dakota; Paul E. Patton, Governor,
Kentucky; Bill Campbell, Mayor, Atlanta, Georgia; the following officials of
the State of Oklahoma: Susan Savage, Mayor, Tulsa; Mitch Surrett, Special
Counsel, Secretary of Transportation; and Tom O'Neill, Aerospace Industry
Deputy, Department of Commerce; and a public witness. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

COAST GUARD AND FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION BUDGET REQUESTS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard
and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on the Coast Guard and Federal
Maritime Commission Fiscal Year 2001 budget requests. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation:
Adm. James M. Loy, USCG, Commandant; and Master Chief Petty Officer Vincent
Patton, III, USCG; and Harold J. Creel, Jr., Chairman, Federal Maritime
Commission.
 
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3313,
Long Island South Restoration Act; and H.R. 2957, Lake Pontchartrain Basis
Restoration Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Representatives Johnson of
Connecticut, Ackerman, Shays, Jefferson, Lazio and Vitter; George E. Pataki,
Governor, New York; John C. Rowland, Governor, Connecticut; and public
witnesses. 

SENIOR CITIZENS' FREEDOM TO WORK ACT

Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 5, Senior
Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2000. 

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION REFORM

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing on
unemployment compensation reform. Testimony was heard from Representatives
English and Levin; Jane Dee Hull, Governor, Arizona; Raymond J. Uhalde, Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Employment Training Administration, Department of Labor;
Garey Forster, Secretary, Department of Labor, Louisiana; and public
witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D138]

ACCRUAL BASIS TAXPAYERS

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing to
review last year's repeal of the installment method of accounting for accrual
basis taxpayers. Testimony was heard from Joseph M. Mikrut, Tax Legislative
Counsel, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. 

NSA

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold a
hearing on the NSA. Testimony was heard from departmental officials. 



2000/03/01
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 1, 2000; pages D142 - D150

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, held a hearing on Food,
Nutrition and Consumer Services. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the USDA: Shirley R. Watkins, Under Secretary; and Rajen Anand,
Executive Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary, on the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Commerce. Testimony
was heard from Madeline K. Albright, Secretary of State; and William M. Daley,
Secretary of Commerce. 

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on Fiscal
Year 2001 Department of Defense Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Defense: William S. Cohen, Secretary;
and Gen. Henry Shelton, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on the
Bureau of Land Management. Testimony was heard from Thomas A. Fry, Director,
Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Disease, the Fogarty International Center, the Human Genome
Research Institute, and the National Eye Institute. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the NIH, Department of Health and Human Services:
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases; Gerald T. Keusch, M.D., Director, Fogarty International Center;
Francis Collins, M.D., D146Director, National Human Genome Research Institute;
and Karl Kupfer, M.D., Director, National Eye Institute. 

                                          [Page: D146]

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a hearing on
the Coast Guard. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of Transportation: Adm. James Loy, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast
Guard; and Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General. 

VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
held a hearing on the Council on Environmental Quality, and Cemeterial
Expenses of the Army. Testimony was heard from George Frampton, Acting
Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality; and Joe Westphal, Assistant
Secretary, Civil Works, Department of the Army, Department of Defense. 

REAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held a hearing
on Real Property Maintenance and Infrastructure funding. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of the GAO: Neal P. Curtin, Associate Director;
and Brenda S. Farrell, Assistant Director; and the following officials of the
Department of Defense: Randall A. Yim, Deputy Under Secretary (Installations);
Maj. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Jr., USA, Deputy Chief of Staff,
Installations and Housing, Department of the Army; Rear Adm. Louis M. Smith,
USN, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Chief of Navy Civil
Engineers, and Maj. Gen. Harold Mashbum, Jr., USMC, Assistant Deputy Chief of
Staff, Installations and Logistics, U.S. Marine Corps, both with the
Department of the Navy; and Maj. Gen. Earnest O. Robbins II, USAF, Civil
Engineer, Department of the Air Force. 

DEFENSEWIDE-RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Research and Development
held a hearing on defensewide research and development programs. Testimony was
heard from Jacques S. Gansler, Under Secretary, Acquisition and Technology,
Department of Defense. 

DECIMAL CONVERSION 2000: ARE THE MARKETS READY

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials held a
hearing on Decimal Conversion 2000: Are the Markets Ready? Testimony was heard
from Davi M. D'Agostino, Acting Associate Director, Financial Institutions and
Markets Issues, GAO. 

NATIONAL PRACTITIONER DATA BANK--PUBLIC ACCESS

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a
hearing on Public Access to the National Practitioner Data Bank: What
Consumers Should Know About Their Doctors. Testimony was heard from Senator
Wyden; Claude Fox, Acting Administrator, Health Resources and Services
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Nancy Achin Sullivan,
Executive Director, Board of Registration in Medicine, State of Massachusetts;
Wayne Olsten, Director, Division of Health Care Standards and Surveillance,
Department of Health, State of New York; and public witnesses. 

AMERICA'S SCHOOLS--CHARACTER EDUCATION ROLE

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood,
Youth, and Families held a hearing on Building a Nation: The Role of Character
Education in America's Schools. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT--FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing on Financial Management at the Department of
Education. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department
of Education: Frank Holleman, Deputy Secretary; and Lorraine Lewis, Inspector
General; Gloria Jarmon, Director, Health, Education, and Human Services,
Accounting and Financial Management Issues, GAO; and a public witness. 

"ROLE OF YAH LIN `CHARLIE' TRIE IN ILLEGAL POLITICAL FUNDRAISING"

Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on "The Role of Yah Lin
`Charlie' Trie in Illegal Political Fundraising." Testimony was heard from Yah
Lin `Charlie' Trie. 

OPEC--U.S. POLICY TOWARD

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S. Policy Toward
OPEC. Testimony was heard from Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported H.R. 1443, Traffic Stops
Statistics Study Act of 1999. 

                                          [Page: D147]

The Committee began mark up of H.R. 2372, Private Property Rights
Implementation Act of 1999. 

The Committee also approved Committee Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal
Year 2001 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

VISA WAIVER PERMANENT PROGRAM ACT; PRIVATE BILLS

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims approved
for full Committee action the Visa Waiver Permanent Program Act. 

The Subcommittee also approved for full Committee action private bills. 

COMMON SENSE PROTECTIONS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 3160, Common Sense Protections
for Endangered Species Act. Testimony was heard from Marc Racicot, Governor,
State of Montana; Jamie Clark, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior; and Penelope D. Dalton, Director, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce. 

ENERGY DEPARTMENT--BUDGET AUTHORIZATION REQUEST

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on
Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Authorization Request: Department of Energy, Offices
of Science; Environment, Safety and Health; and Environmental Management.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Energy:
James F. Decker, Acting Director, Office of Science; Dan M. Berkovitz, Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Policy, Planning, and Budget, Office of Environmental
Management; and David M. Michaels, Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety
and Health. 

FAA BUDGET REVIEW

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on FAA
Research and Development Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Review. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Steven
Zaidman, Associate Administrator, Research and Acquisitions, FAA; and Alexis
M. Stefani, Assistant Inspector General, Auditing; and public witnesses. 

SBA REAUTHORIZATION AND BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on Small Business Administration
Reauthorization and Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Request. Testimony was heard from
Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA; and public witnesses. 

FAA'S BUDGET REQUEST AND FUNDING NEEDS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation
concluded hearings on the FAA's Budget request and funding needs. Testimony
was heard from Jane F. Garvey, Administrator, FAA, Department of
Transportation; and public witnesses. 

EVERGLADES AND SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment held a hearing on restoration of the Everglades and
South Florida Ecosystem. Testimony was heard from Representatives Meek of
Florida, Deutsch and Foley, Joseph W. Westphal, Assistant Secretary of the
Army (Civil Works), Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; Mary E. Doyle,
Counselor to the Secretary, Department of the Interior; David B. Struhs,
Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, State of Florida; and
public witnesses. 

COMMITTEE BUSINESS; FBI

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to
consider pending business. 

The Committee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on the FBI.
Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. 



2000/03/02
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 2, 2000; pages D151 - D162

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Natural
Resources Conservation Service. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the USDA: James R. Lyons, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and
Environment; Pearlie S. Reed, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service;
and Stephen B. Dewhurst, Chief Budget Officer. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and
Judiciary held a hearing on the Bureau of Prisons. Testimony was heard from
D156Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Director, Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice. 

                                          [Page: D156]

FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export
Financing and Related Programs held a hearing on the Administration's Fiscal
Year 2001 Budget request for Export Financing and Related Programs. Testimony
was heard from James A. Harman, President and Chairman, Export-Import Bank;
George Munoz, President and CEO, Overseas Private Investment Corporation; and
J. Joseph Grandmaison, Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on the
Fish and Wildlife Service. Testimony was heard from Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the National Institute of Mental Health, the
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the National Institute of
Nursing Research. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the NIH,
Department of Health and Human Services: Steven E. Hyman, M.D., Director,
National Institute of Mental Health; Stephen E. Straus, M.D., Director,
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Kenneth Olden,
M.D., Director, National Institute of Environmental Health; and Patricia
Grady, M.D., Director, National Institute of Nursing Research. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held a
hearing on Navy Construction and Army Construction. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Robert B. Pirie, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary, Installations and Environment; and Rear Adm. Louis M.
Smith, USN, Commander Naval Facilities Engineering Command, both with the
Department of the Navy; Mahlon Apgar, Assistant Secretary, Installations,
Logistics and Environment; and Maj. Gen. R. L. Van Antwerp, USA, Assistant
Chief of Staff, Installation Management, both with the Department of the Army. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a hearing on
Truck Safety. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of Transportation: Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General; and Julie
Anna Cirillo, Acting Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration; and Phyllis Scheinberg, Associate Director, Transportation
Issues, Resources, Community and Economic Developing Division, GAO. 

VA, HUD, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
held a hearing on the American Battle Monuments Commission and the Chemical
Safety and Health Investigation Board. Testimony was heard from Gen., Fred
Worner, USA (Ret.), Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission; and Gerald
V. Poje, member, Chemical Safety and Health Investigation Board. 

ENERGY DEPARTMENT--REORGANIZATION AND REFORMS

Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on implementation of Department of
Energy reorganization and reforms contained in Title XXXII of the Fiscal year
2000 National Defense Authorization Act. Testimony was heard from Bill
Richardson, Secretary of Energy. 

ENERGY DEPARTMENT--EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION

Committee on Armed Services: Special Oversight Panel on Department of Energy
Reorganization held a hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration,
Department of Energy. Testimony was heard from Gary L. Jones, Associate
Director, Energy, Resources and Science Issues, GAO; Morton Rosenberg.
Specialist in American Law, Congressional Research Service, Library of
Congress; and a public witness. 

BUDGET REQUEST--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Installations and
Facilities held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2001 budget request for military
construction and military family housing of the Department of Defense.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense:
William Lynn, Under Secretary (Comptroller); Randall Yim, Deputy Under
Secretary (Installations); Mahlon Apgar, IV, Assistant Secretary of the Army
(Installations and Environment); Maj. Gen. Milton Hunter, D157USA, Director of
Military Programs, Corps of Engineers; Maj. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Jr.,
USA, Assistant Chief of Staff, Installations Management; Maj. Gen. Thomas J.
Plewes, USA, Chief, Army Reserve; and Brig. Gen. Michael Squier, USA, Deputy
Director, Army National Guard, all with the Department of the Army. 

                                          [Page: D157]

MEMBERS DAY

Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Members Day. Testimony was heard
from Representatives Skelton, Rohrabacher, Filner, and Kucinich. 

REFORMULATED GASOLINE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a hearing
on the national implementation of the reformulated gasoline program. Testimony
was heard from Representatives Franks of New Jersey and LaHood; Robert
Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation, EPA; Mark Mazur,
Director, Office of Policy, Department of Energy; Thomas Skinner, Director,
Environmental Protection Agency, State of Illinois; and public witnesses. 

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT--TREATMENT OF STOCK OPTIONS AND EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITIES

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce
Protections held hearing on the Treatment of Stock Options and Employee
Investment Opportunities under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Testimony was
heard from T. Michael Kerr, Administrator, Wage and House Division, Department
of Labor; and public witnesses. 

CHINA AND TIBET HUMAN RIGHTS

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
and Human Rights held a hearing on Human Rights in China and Tibet. Testimony
was heard from public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held an
oversight hearing on Forest Service Planning Rule Revision. Testimony was
heard from Jim Furnish, Deputy Chief, Forest Service, USDA; and public
witnesses. 

SAN RAFAEL WESTERN LEGACY DISTRICT AND NATIONAL CONSERVATION ACT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held a
hearing on H.R. 3605, San Rafael Western Legacy District and National
Conservation Act. Testimony was heard from Molly McUsic, Counselor to the
Secretary, Department of the Interior; the following officials of the State of
Utah: Wilson Martin, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, Division of
State History, Preservation Office; and Courtland Nelson, Director, Division
of Parks and Recreation, Department of Natural Resources; and public
witnesses. 



2000/03/06
Daily Digest - Monday, March 6, 2000; pages D163 - D166

Committee Meetings 

CHARTER SCHOOLS: SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES 

Committee on Education and the Workforce, On March 3, the Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on Charter Schools: Successes
D165and Challenges. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D165]



2000/03/07
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 7, 2000; pages D167 - D172

Committee Meetings

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from
public witnesses.



2000/03/08
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 8, 2000; pages D174 - D184

Committee Meetings

REVIEW--FOREST SERVICE BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight,
Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing to review the U.S. Forest Service budget
request for Fiscal Year 2001. Testimony was heard from Mike Dombeck, Chief,
Forest Service, USDA. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Research,
Education and Extension. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the USDA: I. Miley Gonzalez, Under Secretary, Research, Education and
Economics; and Stephen B. Dewhurst, Director, Office of Budget and Program
Analysis. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and
Judiciary held a hearing on the Attorney General. Testimony was heard from
Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice. 

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on Fiscal
Year 2001 Air Force Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense: F.
Whitten Peters, Secretary; and Gen. Michael E. Ryan, USAF, Chief of Staff. 

                                          [Page: D179]

The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on Fiscal
Year 2001 Air Force Acquisition Program. Testimony was heard from Lawrence
Delaney, Assistant Secretary, the Air Force, Acquisition, Department of the
Air Force, Department of Defense. 

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development held
a hearing on the Secretary of Energy. Testimony was heard from Bill
Richardson, Secretary of Energy. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held an oversight
hearing on Bureau of Indian Affairs Reorganization/National Academy of Public
Administration Report, and a hearing on the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the
Smithsonian. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of the Interior: Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs;
and Thomas M. Thompson, Principal Deputy Special Trustee for American Indians,
Office of the Special Trustee; Larry Small, Secretary, Smithsonian
Institution; and public witnesses. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; Director, the NIH and the Office of
Director Panel. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the NIH,
Department of Health and Human Services: Ruth Kirschstein, M.D., Acting
Director; and Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Director, National Institute of Arthritis
and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. 

The Subcommittee also continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard
from public witnesses. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a hearing on
Federal Transit Capital Project. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Transportation: Raymond DeCarli, Deputy
Inspector General; and Nuria Fernandez, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit
Administration; Phyllis F. Scheinberg, Associate Director, Transportation
Issues, Resources, Community and Economic Development Division, GAO; Sergio
Gonzalez, Secretary of Transportation, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and public
witnesses. 

VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies
held a hearing on the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Testimony
was heard from Andrew Cuomo, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE AND RESERVE COMPONENT ISSUES

Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing
on Sustaining the All Volunteer Force and Reserve Component Issues. Testimony
was heard from Norman J. Rabkin, Director, National Security Preparedness
Issues, GAO; the following officials of the Department of Defense: Rudy de
Leon, Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness; Charles L. Cragin, Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Reserve Affairs; Lt. Gen. David H. Ohle, USA,
Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, U.S. Army; Vice Adm. Norbert Ryan, USN,
Chief, Naval Personnel, U.S. Navy; Lt. Gen. Donald L. Peterson, USAF, Deputy
Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force; Lt. Gen. Jack W. Klimp, USMC, Deputy Chief of
Staff, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, U.S. Marine Corps; Lt. Gen. Russell C.
Davis, USAF, Chief, National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen. Roger C. Schultz, USA,
Director, Army National Guard; Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Plewes, USA, Chief, U.S.
Army Reserve; Rear Adm. John B. Totusek, USN, Director, U.S. Naval Reserve;
Maj. Gen. Paul A. Weaver, USAF, Director, Air National Guard; Maj. Gen. James
F. Sherrard III, USAF, Chief, Air Force Reserve and Commander, Air Force
Reserve Command; and Maj. Gen. David M. Mize, USMC, Commander, Marine Forces
Reserve; and Rear Adm. D. Dennis Sirois, USCG, Director, U.S. Coast Guard
Reserve, Department of Transportation. 

INFORMATION SUPERIORITY AND INFORMATION ASSURANCE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness and the
Subcommittee on Research and Development held a joint hearing on information
superiority and information assurance. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Defense: Art Money, Assistant Secretary
(Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence); Lt. Gen. John L.
Woodward, Jr., USA, Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computers
Systems, The Joint Staff; Lt. Gen. William H. Campbell, USA, Director,
Information Systems, Command, Control, and Computers, Department of the Army;
Rear Adm. Richard W. Mayo, USN, Director, Space, Information, Warfare, Command
and Control, Department of the Navy; Lt. D180Gen. William J. Donahue, USAF,
Director, Headquarters Communications and Information, Department of the Air
Force; and Brig. Gen. Robert Shea, USMC, Assistant Deputy Commandant, Command,
Control, Communications, and Intelligence, U.S. Marine Corps; Neal Lane,
Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Office of Science and
Technology Policy; and John S. Tritak, Director, Critical Infrastructure
Assurance Office.
 
                                          [Page: D180]

GLOBAL AIDS CRISIS

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on the Global AIDS
crisis and pandemic in Africa, including H.R. 3519, World Bank AIDS Prevention
Trust Fund Act. Testimony was heard from Senator Kerry; Representative
Houghton; Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, to the United Nations, Department
of State; Sandra L. Thurman, Director, White House Office of National AIDS
Policy; Timothy F. Geithner, Under Secretary (International Affairs),
Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. 

TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood,
Youth, and Families held a hearing on Technology in Education. Testimony was
heard from public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--2000 CENSUS

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on the Census held an oversight
hearing of the 2000 Census: Status of Bureau Census Operations and Activities.
Testimony was heard from Kenneth Prewitt, Director, Bureau of the Census,
Department of Commerce. 

COMBATING TERRORISM

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans'
Affairs and International Relations held a hearing on Combating Terrorism:
Management of Medical Stockpiles. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the GAO: Cynthia Bascetta, Associate Director, Veterans Affairs
and Military Health Issues; and Martin J. Eble, Senior Evaluator, Accounting
and Information Management Division; Frances Murphy, M.D., Acting Under
Secretary, Policy and Management, Department of Veterans Affairs; the
following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Robert F.
Knouss, M.D., Office of Emergency Preparedness, Public Health Service; and
Stephen M. Ostroff, Associate Director, Epidemiologic Science, National Center
for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Col.
Carlos Hollifield, USMC, Commander, Chemical Biological Incident Response
Force, U.S. Marine Corps, Department of Defense. 

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Committee on House Administration: Met to consider pending business. 

ASIA-U.S. SECURITY CONCERNS

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
held a hearing on U.S. Security Concerns in Asia. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Defense: Adm. Dennis Blair, USN,
Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; and Franklin D. Kramer, Assistant
Secretary, International Security Affairs; and Rust Deming, Acting Assistant
Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State. 

HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES--COUNTRY REPORT

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
and Human Rights held a hearing on Country Report on Human Rights Practices
for 1999. Testimony was heard from Harold Hongju Koh, Assistant Secretary,
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department of State; and public
witnesses. 

PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Continued markup of H.R. 2372, Private Property
Rights Implementation Act of 1999. 

Will continue tomorrow. 

TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims approved
for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 3244, Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 1999. 

WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH ACT OF 1999; MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

Committee on Rules: Granted by a vote of 7 to 3, a closed rule providing for
consideration of H.R. 3081, Wage and Employment Growth Act of 1999, in the
House without intervention of any point of order. The rule provides that the
bill be considered as read and that, in lieu of the amendment recommended by
the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill, the text of H.R.
3832, Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2000, shall be considered as adopted.
The rule provides two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The
rule provides one motion to recommit H.R. 3081 with or without instructions.
Testimony D181was heard from Chairman Archer and Representatives Gutknecht,
Rangel, Bonior, Phelps, and Sandlin. 

                                          [Page: D181]

The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 3846, A Bill to Increase the
Minimum Wage, in the House under a modified closed rule. The rule provides
that the bill be considered as read and shall be debatable for one hour
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of
the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The rule provides for
consideration of the amendments printed in the Rules Committee report
accompanying the resolution, which shall be in order without intervention of
any point of order, except those arising under section 425 of the
Congressional Budget Act (prohibiting consideration of legislation containing
certain unfunded mandates). The rule provides that the amendments printed in
the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution may only be offered by
the Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, and shall be
separately debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and
controlled by the proponent and an opponent. The rule provides one motion to
recommit H.R. 3846 with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from
Chairman Goodling and Representatives Shimkus, Clay, and Kleczka 

Finally, the rule provides that in the engrossment of H.R. 3081, the clerk
shall add the text of H.R. 3846, as passed by the House, as a new matter at
the end of H.R. 3081, after which H.R. 3846 shall be laid on the table. 

IVANPAH VALLEY AIRPORT PUBLIC LANDS TRANSFER ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote an open rule on H.R. 1695, Ivanpah
Valley Airport Public Lands Transfer, providing one hour of general debate
equally divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Resources. The rule waives all points of order against
consideration of the bill. The rule makes in order the Committee on Resources
amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed in the bill as an original
bill for the purpose of amendment, which shall be open for amendment at any
point. The rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment in
the nature of a substitute. The rule provides that the amendment printed in
the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution shall be
considered as read and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule authorizes
the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed
their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule allows the Chairman of
the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill,
and to reduce voting time to five minutes on a postponed question if the vote
follows a fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to
recommit with or without instructions. Act. Testimony was heard from
Representative Hansen and Gibbons. 

CONFERENCE REPORT--COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE COMPETITION AND PRIVATIZATION ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote a rule waiving all points of order
against the conference report to accompany S. 376, Communications Satellite
Competition and Privatization Act, and against its consideration. Testimony
was heard from Chairman Bliley. 

TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT IMPLEMENTATION

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Ground
Transportation held a hearing on Implementation of the Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century by the Department of Transportation. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Department of Transportation:
Kenneth R. Wykle, Administrator; and Julie A. Cirillo, Acting Deputy
Administrator and Acting Chief Safety Officer, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, both with the Federal Highway Administration, Joline M.
Molitoris, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; Kelley S. Coyner,
Administrator, Research and Special Programs Administration; Nuria Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration; Nuria Fernandez, Acting
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration; and Rosalyn G. Millman, Acting
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT PROPOSALS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment approved for full Committee action, as amended, the
following bills: H.R. 910, San Gabriel Basis Water Quality Initiative; and
H.R. 2328, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the
Clean Lakes Program. 

The Subcommittee also held a hearing on proposals for a Water Resources
Development Act of 2000. Testimony was heard from Representatives Pomeroy,
LaHood, McGovern and Bereuter. 

                                          [Page: D182]

KOSOVO

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold a
hearing on Kosovo. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. 



2000/03/09
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 9, 2000; pages D185 - D198

Committee Meetings

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2000. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Farm and
Foreign Agricultural Services. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the USDA: August Schumacher, Jr., Under Secretary, Farm and
Foreign Agricultural Services; Stephen Dewhurst, Budget Officer; and Hugh
Parmer, Assistant Administrator, Humanitarian Response, AID, Department of
State. 

                                          [Page: D191]

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and
Judiciary held a hearing on Department of State Administration of Foreign
Affairs. Testimony was heard from Bonnie Cohen, Under Secretary for
Management, Department of State. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on the
Forest Service. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA:
James Lyons, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment; and Michael
P. Dombeck, Chief, Forest Service. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the Secretary of Education. Testimony was
heard from Richard Riley, Secretary of Education. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held a
hearing on Air Force Construction. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense: Ruby B.
DeMesme, Assistant Secretary, Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations and
Environment; and Maj. Gen. Earnest Robbins, USAF, Air Force Civil Engineer. 

TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and
General Government held a hearing on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the
Treasury: James Johnson, Under Secretary, Law Enforcement; and Bradley A.
Buckles, Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. 

VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, HUD and
Independent Agencies held a hearing on the Neighborhood Reinvestment
Corporation, and the Community Development Financial Institutions. Testimony
was heard from George Knight, Director, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation;
and Ellen Lazar, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Department
of the Treasury. 

BUDGET REQUEST--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND MILITARY HOUSING PROGRAMS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Installations and
Facilities held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2001 budget request for the
military construction and military family housing programs of the Department
of Defense. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department
of Defense: Robert B. Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary (Installations and
Environment), Rear Adm. Louis M. Smith, USN, Commander, Naval Facilities
Engineering Command; Maj. Gen. Harold Mashburn, USMC, Assistant Deputy Chief
of Staff (Installations and Logistics (Facilities), Headquarters, U.S. Marine
Corps; and Rear Adm. John G. Cotton, USN, Deputy Director, Naval Reserve, all
with the Department of the Navy; and Ruby B. Demesme, Assistant Secretary
(Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations, and Environment); Maj. Gen. Earnest
O. Robbins II, USAF, The Civil Engineer; Maj, Gen. Paul A. Weaver, Jr., USAF;
and Brig. Gen. Robert Duignan, USAF, Deputy to the Chief, Office of the Air
Force Reserve, all with the Department of the Air Force. 

ARMY PROGRAMS AND TRANSFORMATION

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement and the
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint hearing on Army
programs and transformation. Testimony was heard from the following officials
of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense; Paul J. Hoeper,
Assistant Secretary (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology); Mike Andrews,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Research and Technology); and Lt. Gen. Paul Kern,
USA, Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition,
Logistics and Technology). 

CIVILIAN PERSONNEL READINESS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness and the
Subcommittee on Civil Service of the Committee on Government Reform held a
joint hearing on Civilian Personnel Readiness. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the GAO: Michael Brostek, Associate Director, Federal
Management and Workforce Issues; and Barry Holman, Associate Director, Defense
Management Issues; and the following officials of the Department of Defense:
Diane M. Disney, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Civilian Personnel Policy); David
L. Snyder, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Army (Civilian Personnel Policy); Betty
S. Welch, Deputy Assistant D192Secretary, Navy (Civilian Personnel/EEO); Mary
Lou Keener, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Air Force (Force Management and
Personnel); and David O. Cooke, Director, Administration and Management,
Office of the Secretary; and a public witness. 

                                          [Page: D192]

MONEY LAUNDERING

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on Money
Laundering. Testimony was heard from Senator Schumer; Stuart Eizenstat, Deputy
Secretary, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. 

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS--OIL MARKETS

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on
price fluctuations in oil markets. Testimony was heard from Representatives
Moran of Kansas, Sherwood, Sweeney and Crowley; the following officials of the
Department of Energy: Mark Mazur, Director, Office of Policy; and John Cook,
Director, Petroleum Division, Energy Information Administration; Richard G.
Parker, Director, Bureau of Competition, FTC; and public witnesses. 

FETAL TISSUE

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a hearing
on Fetal Tissue: Is It Being Bought and Sold in Violation of Federal Law?
Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

The Subcommittee also adopted a resolution finding Miles Jones, M.D., in
Contempt of Congress and directing the Chairman to report such findings to the
full Committee for consideration. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer
Protection held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3011, Truth in Billing
Act of 1999; and H.R. 3022, Rest of the Truth in Telephone Billing Act of
1999. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

ERISA REFORM PROPOSALS

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-Employee
Relations held a hearing on "A More Secure Retirement for Workers: Proposals
for ERISA Reform." Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; ANTHRAX REPORT

Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R.
3699, designating that the facility of the United States Postal Service
located at 3409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, be known as the "Joel T.
Broyhill Postal Building"; H.R. 3701, designating the United States Postal
Service located at 3118 Washington Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia, be known
as the "Joseph L. Fisher Post Office Building"; H.R. 3030, to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 757 Warren Road in
Ithaca, New York, as the "Matthew F. McHugh Post Office"; and H.R. 3488, to
designate the United States Post Office located at 60 Third Avenue in Long
Branch, New Jersey, as the "Pat King Post Office Building". 

The Committee also approved the following draft report entitled: "The
Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program: Unproven Force
Protection". 

COMPUTER SECURITY

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management,
Information, and Technology held a hearing on "Computer Security: Are We
Prepared for Cyberwar?" Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the Department of Commerce: John Tritak, Director, Critical Infrastructure
Assurance Office; and Karen Brown, Deputy Director, National Institute of
Standards and Technology; John Gilligan, Chief Information Officer, Department
of Energy; and public witnesses. 

INTERNATIONAL POSTAL POLICY

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Postal Service held a hearing
on International Postal Policy. Testimony was heard from Bernard L. Ungar,
Director, Government Business Operations Issues, GAO; Ambassador Michael
Southwick, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization
Affairs, Department of State; T.S. Chung, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Services
Industry, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce; Joseph
Papovich, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Services, Investments, and
Intellectual Property, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; Elizabeth
Durant, Director, Trade Programs, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the
Treasury; Donna Patterson, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust
Division, Department of Justice; Robert Cohen, Director, Office of Rates,
Analysis and Planning, U.S. Postal Rate Commission; William J. Henderson,
Postmaster General and CEO, U.S. Postal Service; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; SOUTHEAST EUROPE--U.S. ASSISTANCE COMMITMENTS

Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered the following
resolutions and adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be
considered on the Suspension Calendar: H. Res. 429, D193amended, expressing
the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the participation of the
extremist FPO in the government of Austria; and H. Res. 431, amended,
expressing support for humanitarian assistance to the Republic of Mozambique. 

                                          [Page: D193]

The Committee also held a hearing on U.S. Assistance Commitments in Southeast
Europe. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of
State: Larry C. Napper, Coordinator, Eastern European Assistance; James
Pardew, Principal Deputy Special Advisor to the President and the Secretary of
State for Kosovo and Dayton Accords Implementation; and Daniel Hamilton,
Special Coordinator for Southeast Europe Stability Pact Implementation. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 2372, Private
Property Rights Implementation Act of 1999. 

The Committee also began mark up of H.R. 1283, Fairness in Asbestos
Compensation Act of 1999. 

Will continue March 14. 

OVERSIGHT--PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property
held an oversight hearing on the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Testimony was heard from Q. Todd Dickinson, Assistant Secretary and
Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Department of Commerce; and public
witnesses. 

INTERNET GAMBLING ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on H.R. 3125,
Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Senator
Kyl; Representative Goodlatte; Kevin DiGregory, Deputy Assistant Attorney
General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; James E. Doyle, Attorney
General, State of Wisconsin; and public witnesses. 

IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT AMENDMENTS

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims approved
for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 238, to amend section 274 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act to impose mandatory minimum sentences, and
increase certain sentences, for bringing in and harboring certain aliens and
to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide enhanced penalties for
persons committing such offenses while armed. 

OVERSIGHT--MAGNUSON-STEVENS CONSERVATION ACT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and
Oceans held an oversight hearing on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
Act. Testimony was heard from Penelope Dalton, Assistant Administrator,
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department of Commerce;
Clarence Pautzke, Executive Director, North Pacific Fishery Management
Council; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power approved for full
Committee action the following bills: H.R. 2647, Ak-Chin Water Use Amendments
Act of 1999; H.R. 3236, amended, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
enter into contracts with the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Utah.,
to use Weber Basin Project facilities for the impounding, storage, and
carriage of nonproject water for domestic, municipal, industrial and other
beneficial purposes; and H.R. 3577, to increase the amount authorized to be
appropriated for the north side pumping division of the Minidoka reclamation
project, Idaho. 

CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on
Fiscal Year 2001 Climate Change Budget Authorization Request. Testimony was
heard from D. James Baker, Administrator, NOAA and Under Secretary, Oceans and
Atmosphere, Department of Commerce; Dan W. Reicher, Assistant Secretary,
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy; and Paul M.
Stolpman, Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs, Office of Air and
Radiation, EPA. 

REVIEW BUDGET REQUESTS

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing to review the
Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Request for the Technology Administration/National
Institute of Standards and Technology, including Computer Security and
E-Commerce Initiatives. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the Department of Commerce: Ray Kammer, Director and Cheryl Shavers, Under
Secretary, Technology Administration, both with the National Institute of
Standards and Technology; and Johnnie E. Frazier, Inspector General. 

                                          [Page: D194]

SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT CORRECTIONS ACT; SMALL BUSINESS REAUTHORIZATION ACT

Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3845,
Small Business Investment Corrections Act of 2000; and H.R. 3843, Small
Business Reauthorization Act of 2000. 

HOMELESS VETERANS' ISSUES

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits and the Subcommittee
on Health held a joint hearing on homeless veterans' issues. Testimony was
heard from Tommy Thompson, Governor, State of Wisconsin; the following
officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Fran M. Murphy, M.D.,
Veterans Health Administration; and Henrietta Fishman, VISN 3, Homeless
Veterans Treatment Program; Fred Karnas, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Special Needs Programs, Department of Housing and Urban Development;
Espiridion Borrego, Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training,
Department of Labor; Raymond G. Boland, Secretary, Department of Veterans
Affairs, State of Wisconsin; representatives of veterans organizations; and
public witnesses. 

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION--FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing on
Unemployment Compensation and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Testimony was
heard from Senator Gregg; Raymond J. Uhalde, Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor; Christopher G.
Donovan, member, House of Representatives, State of Connecticut; and public
witnesses. 

DCI BUDGET OVERVIEW

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold a
hearing on Fiscal Year 2001-DCI Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from
departmental witnesses. 



2000/03/13
Daily Digest - Monday, March 13, 2000; pages D199 - D202

Committee Meetings

ERISA REFORM PROPOSALS

Committee on Education and the Workforce: On March 10, the Subcommittee on
Employer-Employee Relations concluded hearings on "A More Secure Retirement
for Workers: Proposals for ERISA Reform." Testimony was heard from public
witnesses. 

BIENNIAL BUDGETING

Committee on Rules: On March 10, the Committee continued hearings on Biennial
Budgeting: A Tool for Improving Government Fiscal Management and Oversight.
Testimony was heard from Jack Lew, Director, OMB; Dan Crippen, Director, CBO;
Sue Irving, Associate Director, Budget Issues, GAO; and Lou Fisher, Senior
Specialist, Separation of Powers, Congressional Research Service, Library of
Congress. 

Hearings continue March 16. 

ENERGY DEPARTMENT--BUDGET AUTHORIZATION REQUEST

Committee on Science: On March 10, the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
continued hearings on Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Authorization Request:
Department of Energy--Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Fossil
Energy; and Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Department of Energy: Dan W. Reicher, Assistant
Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; William D. Magwood, IV,
Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology; and Robert S.
Kripowicz, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy. 
 
SUPPORT TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: On March 10, the Subcommittee on
Technical and Tactical Intelligence met in executive session to hold a hearing
on Support to Military Operations. Testimony was heard from departmental
witnesses. 



2000/03/14
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 14, 2000; pages D204 - D208

Committee Meetings

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on the
Department of Energy--Fossil Energy. Testimony was heard from Robert Gee,
Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy, Department of Energy. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education continued appropriations hearings. Testimony was heard from
public witnesses. 

TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and
General Government held a hearing on the Customs Service and the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center. Testimony was heard from the following officials
of the Department of the Treasury: Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, U.S.
Customs Service; W. Ralph Basham, Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center; and James E. Johnson, Under Secretary, Enforcement. 

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PROGRAMS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement and the
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint hearing on Navy
and Marine Corps programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the Department of Defense: Lee Buchanan, Assistant Secretary, Navy (Research,
Development and Acquisition); Vice Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher, USN, Deputy
Chief, Naval Operations (Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments); and
Lt. Gen. Michael Williams, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and
Resources, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. 
 
AMERICAN HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended,
H.R. 1776, American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000. 

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION--SAFETY AND SECURITY

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee
on Oversight and Investigations held a joint hearing on safety and security of
the new National Nuclear Security Administration. Testimony was heard T. J.
Glauthier, Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy; Gary L. Jones, Associate
Director, Energy, Resources, and Science Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS MERGER ACT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer
Protection held a hearing on the Telecommunications Merger Act of 2000.
Testimony was heard from the following Commissioners of the FCC: Harold W.
Furchtgott-Roth; and Michael K. Powell; and a public witness. 

OVERSIGHT--2000 CENSUS

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on the Census held an oversight
hearing on the 2000 Census: Status of Key Operations. Testimony was heard from
J. Christopher Mihm, Acting Associate Director, Federal Management and
Workforce Issues, GAO. 

HHS DRUG TREATMENT SUPPORT

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy
and Human Resources concluded hearings on HHS Drug Treatment Support: Is
SAMHSA Optimizing Resources? Testimony was heard from the following officials
of the Department of Health and Human Services: Nelba R. Chavez, M.D.,
Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; and
Alan I. Leshner, M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse. 
 
OVERSIGHT--FOREST SERVICE ROAD MANAGEMENT POLICY

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held an
oversight hearing on Forest Service Road Management Policy. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Forest Service, USDA: Michael P.
Dombeck, Chief; and Dale Bosworth, Regional Forester, Northern Region. 

                                          [Page: D206]

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held a
hearing on H.R. 2557, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
feasibility study on the inclusion in Biscayne National Park, Florida, of the
archaeological site known as the Miami Circle; and H.R. 3084, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to contribute funds for the establishment of an
interpretative center on the life and contributions of President Abraham
Lincoln. Testimony was heard from Representatives Meek of Florida, Shimkus and
LaHood; Terrel Emmons, Associate Director, Professional Services, National
Park Service, Department of the Interior; Susan Mogerman, Director, Historic
Preservation Agency, State of Illinois; and public witnesses. 

SMALL BUSINESS REAUTHORIZATION ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing one hour of
general debate on H.R. 3843, Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000,
equally divided between the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on
Small Business. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of
the bill. The rule provides that the bill will be open for amendment by
section. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to
Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record .
The rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes
during consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting time to five minutes on
a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. The rule
provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Finally, the
rule lays H. Res. 432 (providing for consideration of the conference report to
accompany S. 376) on the table. Testimony was heard from Chairman Talent and
Representative Velazquez. 

WENDELL H. FORD AVIATION INVESTMENT AND REFORM ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points of order
against the conference report to accompany H.R. 1000, Wendell H. Ford Aviation
Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century and against its consideration.
Testimony was heard from Chairman Shuster and Representatives Duncan,
Oberstar, and Lipinski. 

VETERANS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACT

Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Government Programs and Oversight
and the Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a
joint hearing with respect to Public Law 106-50, Veterans Entrepreneurship and
Small Business Development Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Darryl
Dennis, Assistant Administrator, SBA; represent